Easter 2025 - Day 7: Jesus and the Resurrection

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26

It's Sunday. We do church on Sunday because it is resurrection day. The day of the week when the stone was rolled away and an empty tomb was on display for all to see. Even more than that, it is the day when the testimonies that He was alive began with angels and the resurrected Jesus was first seen (Lk 24:6,31/Mt 28:6,9). All week we have been preparing to be Resurrection Ready and here we are on the big day. The conversation in the above text took place about a week before resurrection day. Jesus was always preparing people, redirecting and setting their minds on things above (Col 3:2). This occasion was the raising of his friend Lazarus and a discussion beforehand with his sister Martha. Jesus was careful to explain that the miracles He performed had greater and deeper meaning. Each and every miracle was designed to point people to Him (Lk 5:24/Mt 9:6/Lk 7:22).

I saw part of a movie in which likeness of Jesus was discovered on the wall of a man's house. The stucco had not dried right or something and it looked like Jesus - I guess. And then it got weirder yet, supposedly the likeness began to drip blood and people were healed of various issues by touching it. Naturally, people came from miles around to kneel before it and bring offerings. In all the hype, no one seemed to be pointed to the real Jesus. They were only attracted to a wall and an image. And that's very different from the Biblical accounts. God's word even calls the miracles of Jesus, "signs" (Jn 20:30). Signs point to something more - the sign is not the main event, Jesus is. And you clearly see that where He uses the pronouns "I" and "me" three times in talking about resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life." You see we can believe in life after death and we can believe in heaven and we can even believe in God, but we dare not miss place Jesus as the center most piece of it all. All signs point to Him. Jesus is the whole point.

Look to Jesus or you miss the promises that come with Him. The first of which is, "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…" Life after death. Physical death is not the end. In fact, it's in dying that you live forever. Look to Jesus and you no longer need fear death (He 2:15/1Co 15:55). The second promise is better yet because it begins now. "…and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." A new life now. New desires, new hopes… a new heart and a new mind. In fact, the life of a believer is of such a quality that he will never die spiritually. From the moment he trusts in Jesus, he has eternal life (Jn 3:16, 5:24, 10:28), and the end of physical life is only a sleep for his body until the resurrection. The spiritual part of a believer, his soul, goes immediately to be with the Lord (2Co 5:6, 8/Ph 1:23). Promises, if you are Resurrection Ready.

And then comes the test… This one question determines if you are Resurrection Ready: "Do you believe this?” Now the question is not, do you believe in the resurrection or do you believe you will never die? No, the question Jesus poses, is about Himself. “I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?” Jesus is the whole point. Today is about Him. Are you Resurrection Ready?